Potatoes are one of the most important crops worldwide—just behind rice and wheat. Because they need great amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous, using PGPRs (plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria) could be a sustainable way to satisfy potatoes’ nitrogen needs.
Pakistani researchers isolated five nitrogen-fixing bacteria—Azospirillum sp. TN10, Agrobacterium sp. TN14, Pseudomonas sp. TN36, Enterobacter sp. TN38 and Rhizobium sp. TN42.
All strains were able to colonize and maintain their population density in the rhizosphere for up to 60 days, with Azospirillum sp. and Rhizobium sp. showing the highest survival rates.
Of the five strains, Azospirillum sp. TN10 produced the highest quantity of IAA (indol-3-acetic acid or auxin, a biostimulant), thus favoring a better root development. Azospirillum sp. TN10 showed the greatest potential to increase root growth and favor nitrogen absorption, therefore researchers feel it is a good candidate to produce biofertilizers.
Source: Fresh Plaza